-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GK3xyx9uG7u+tUpxDzTe+xCFYHIgAVdBQYcnuGrHsc/5ci/z3H1Sh2vPulda5SZe
 W5dUI0ad77LljgrjOTeAhg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000879437-03-000004.txt : 20030813
<SEC-HEADER>0000879437-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030813194104
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000879437-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030813

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FERRIS JEFF
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001164397
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19598
		FILM NUMBER:		03843032

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5711 S 86TH CIRCLE
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68127

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INFOUSA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879437
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-DIRECT MAIL ADVERTISING SERVICES [7331]
		IRS NUMBER:				470751545
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5711 S 86TH CIRCLE
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4025934500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5711 SOUTH 86TH CIRCLE
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68127

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BUSINESS INFORMATION INC /DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-11</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879437</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INFOUSA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>iusa</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001164397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FERRIS JEFF</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5711 S 86TH CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OMAHA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>68127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Wholesale Div.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Direct or Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.563</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4062</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.563</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-04-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-04-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4062</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Direct or Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.063</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9166</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.063</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-11-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-11-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9166</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24772</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Optionee has 834 options @ $6.563, 938 @$6.063, 13,000 @ $7 and 10,000 @ $6.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeff Ferris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----